Conference Presentation, Fireside Chat
Saadia Zahidi: Author of "Fifty Million Rising"
- A global reversal in women's economic participation scores is projected, dropping from a peak of 60%–61% to 58%–59%.
- At current progress rates, closing the global gender gap is predicted to require 202 years.
- Recent years show worrying signs of a slight reversal in the gender health gap.
- Automation and technological disruption are expected to stall progress by displacing majority-female blue-collar factory roles in developing regions and service jobs (e.g., customer relations, administrative assistance) globally.
- The economic gap will persist if companies fail to adapt to contemporary societal structures rather than historical family models from 50 years ago.
- In the broader Muslim world, the adult female workforce is expected to have increased by 50%, rising from 105 million to 155 million due to globalization, technology, and contextual factors.
- Families are anticipated to revise economic calculations to view working women as essential contributors to major expenses, such as constructing a new house.
- Working daughters are expected to face delayed marriage timelines and no longer be pressured to marry at age 19, granting them greater autonomy in spouse selection.
- Future marriage structures are projected to ensure that the freedom granted to a working woman by her employer is reciprocated by her future family.
- The number of working women in the broader Muslim world is expected to continue rising as a "role model effect" cascades through younger generations.
- A shift toward greater authority, agency, and broadened basic human rights is expected to occur once 30% of the adult female workforce in the Muslim world is employed.
- Global policies anticipated to close labor force participation gaps include smart quotas with timelines, mandatory paternity leave, and legislation enforcing pay equality within companies.
- The UK is expected to continue facing significant gaps in pay, economic leadership, and parliamentary or ministerial representation.
- Many regions worldwide are expected to persist in lacking basic human rights for girls and women.
- A tipping point in the Muslim world is expected where the majority of women will know another woman who works, earns income, and drives her own decisions.